William Penterman, a legislative aide in the State Capitol and a member of the U.S. Army reserve narrowly won an eight-way Republican special primary in the 37th Assembly District. The district includes portions of Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, and Columbia counties as well as parts of the cities of Columbus, Waterloo, and Watertown.

Peterman received 758 votes, gaining a slim 16-vote victory of local university professor Jennifer Meinhardt. A recount remains a possibility.

If officially declared the winner, Penterman will face Democratic candidate Peter Adams and Independent candidate Stephen Ratzlaff Jr. in the July 13 special general election.

The seat became vacant when then state Representative John Jagler (R-Watertown) was elected to represent the 13th Senate District that was previously held by former Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who was elected to Congress last November.

Republicans currently hold a 60-38 seat majority in the Assembly, with the one vacancy in the 37^th Assembly District.